Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution that was established in 1966 and is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. ADB is composed of 69 member countries, with 50 of them from the Asia and Pacific region. The organization is dedicated to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while also focusing on eradicating extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 203

• The institution aims to foster prosperity in Asia and is committed to providing equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background, gender, or abilities. ADB encourages diversity and actively seeks to create an inclusive work environment.

Job Overview:
As a Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist at ADB, you will play a pivotal role in leading and formulating policies and strategies related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development. Your primary responsibilities will include engaging with developing member country (DMC) governments in policy dialogue and conducting ADB's activities to support agriculture, natural resources, and rural development policy reforms, as well as climate change resilience and adaptation initiatives. You will be strategically assigned to the Indonesia Resident Mission (IRM) within the Southeast Asia Department, with the potential for relocation to ADB Headquarters in Manila or other Resident Missions after three years. This position requires a strong focus on ADB's operations in Indonesia while also supporting initiatives across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. You will oversee junior team members and ensure that projects align with ADB's Operational Approach for Food Systems Transformation in Asia and the Pacific.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your duties will include leading the development of strategies for agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development in consultation with relevant government agencies and ADB resident missions. You will support economic and policy analysis for food systems transformation, including agriculture, fisheries, and value chains, while assisting project teams with the economic aspects of irrigated agriculture, water resources management, and flood risk management investments. You will be responsible for the development, processing, and administration of loan, grant, and technical assistance (TA) projects in the agriculture, food, nature, and rural development sector, ensuring that key technical, economic, financial, and crosscutting issues are incorporated into projects. Additionally, you will lead One-ADB teams, collaborate with relevant sector and thematic country focal points, and ensure quality project design and timely implementation. You will represent ADB in meetings with stakeholders, contribute to innovative approaches for policy and operational issues, and keep abreast of best practices in sustainable agriculture and rural development. Regular project updates and reporting to supervisors and project staff will also be part of your responsibilities, along with supervising reporting staff and consultants, ensuring their ongoing learning and development.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, you will need a Master's degree or equivalent in economics specializing in natural resources, agriculture, and rural development, or a university degree in economics combined with at least five years of specialized experience relevant to the position. You should have at least ten years of relevant professional experience in nutrition, natural resources, agriculture, and rural development projects. A strong understanding and practical application of the technical, policy, institutional, and participatory principles of sustainable, integrated natural resources, agriculture, and rural development is essential. You should possess strong analytical abilities, multidisciplinary competence, and proven leadership skills in managing project teams. Additionally, a broad knowledge of international and national policies related to nutrition, agriculture, and rural development is required, along with international experience working in development, particularly in the Southeast Asian region.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in economics with a specialization in natural resources, agriculture, and rural development. Alternatively, a university degree in economics combined with at least five years of specialized experience relevant to the position can be considered. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of the role and effectively contributing to ADB's mission.

Experience:
The position requires at least ten years of relevant professional experience in the fields of nutrition, natural resources, agriculture, and rural development projects. This experience should include a strong understanding of the technical, policy, institutional, and participatory principles of sustainable development. Additionally, international experience working in development, particularly in the nutrition, agriculture, natural resources, and rural development sectors across several Asian countries, is preferred. Experience outside of ADB within the past five years is also required, with specific consideration given to those who have worked as ADB-engaged consultants or contractors.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, with the ability to express ideas clearly in both spoken and written formats. While English is the primary language required for this position, knowledge of additional languages relevant to the Southeast Asian region may be considered advantageous but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This appointment is open to both internal and external applicants and is crucial to ADB's Workforce Rebalancing Framework (2022-2027). The role seeks seasoned experts with substantial field experience capable of leading policy dialogue and projects focused on delivering knowledge solutions. The position is a fixed-term appointment with the option to renew, initially for a period of up to three years, or until the Normal Retirement Date (NRD), whichever comes first. After the initial fixed-term period, ADB may choose to renew the appointment for up to an additional three years based on various factors, including the need for the staff's skills and experience, funding availability, and performance suitability. There is no limit to the number of renewals up to NRD, but this appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. ADB offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including housing and education allowances, expatriate benefits, retirement plans, medical and health benefits, paid leave, and life insurance plans.